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Evaluating Your Child's Hearing

Topic Overview

Fluid may remain in the middle ear (serous otitis, or middle ear
effusion) after your child has an ear infection. This may not cause symptoms,
or it may cause a muffling of sound, decreased hearing, and mild discomfort.
The body usually reabsorbs fluid behind the eardrum within 2 to 4 months, and
hearing returns to normal.

It may be hard to tell if a child has a hearing problem, especially
children age 3 and younger. The following may help you check your child's
hearing at age:

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How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.